Ester

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This historic mining town of Ester sits eight miles west of Fairbanks and is a one of Interior Alaska’s most spirited and lively communities.

About Ester

Ester may be small but it’s not lacking for interesting and colorful residents. Populated by professors from the nearby University of Alaska Fairbanks, artists, writers and other creative souls, Ester takes pride in its independent spirit. Residents often refer to their community as the “independent people’s republic of Ester,” and they’re only half joking.

Gold mining still takes place in the hills surrounding Ester, but the town is now best known as an artist colony. The community is home to a number of galleries and studios that specialize in paintings, jewelry and photography and the Ester Community Market, staged weekly throughout the summer at the Ester Community Park. The open-air market features a wide range of locally produced art and products including honey, clothing, wrought-iron utensils, books and art prints.

History

The town was established in 1906, when miners made a sizable gold strike at Ester Creek. At one time Ester was a thriving community of 5,000, with three hotels and five saloons. The town came back to life in 1936 when the Fairbanks Exploration Company built Ester Camp to support a large-scale gold dredge operation. Today the camp is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its restored mess hall and bunkhouse have been used as a visitor attraction. Most of Ester’s historical buildings date from that era and were either built by the company or relocated from nearby Fox.

Ester

Ester is accessible by road, 8.5 miles west of Fairbanks at Mile 351.2 on the George Parks Highway.

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Local artistic talent is on display at the Ester Community Market staged weekly at the Ester Community Park. The open-air market features a wide range of locally-produced art and products from honey to clothing to wrought iron utensils to books to art prints.

Ester Community Park +

The center of celebrations in Easter is the pleasant Ester Community Park, which is home to the weekly Easter Community Market during the summer.